AMMAN-- Tens of leftist activists and teachers rallied in downtown Amman on Friday in a show of support for educators' nationwide work-stoppage.
In a so-called "Friday in Support of Teachers and Tenants," some 40 youth and leftist activists joined forces with educators to support teachers' demands for a raise in wages, a cause they claim is at the heart of the pro-reform drive.
"There are over 150,000 teachers across the country who are struggling to make ends meet," said Assam Al Khawaja, Popular Youth Movement organiser and assistant secretary general of the leftist Wihda party.
"Education is a service for all Jordanians, which makes the teachers' cause a national cause and one that has been a priority for the pro-reform movement since day one."
During the one-hour rally, which featured a heavy security presence, participants chanted "the teachers want their rights" and "where did their wages go?" stressing that educators' demands for a 100 per cent raise in wages (in the form of a professional allowance) is a basic right and not "charity."
Educators stressed that despite marking their first participation with political movements since launching their work stoppage last week, Friday's demos did not represent a departure from their demands or an entrance into the year-old pro-reform movement.
"We want only our demands to live in dignity; we don't want to be involved politics," said Yousef Abdul Halim, an Amman educator and member of the teacher's committee.
Activists did not rule out the possibility that should authorities continue to refuse to meet their demands, teachers may elevate their calls for a raise in wages to a change in occupants at the Prime Ministry.
"If the government continues to stall we will consider calling for the Prime Minister's resignation," Abdul Halim said on the sidelines of Friday's sit-in.
Rejecting a government counter-proposal offering a 100 per cent raise over three-year period, educators vowed to step up their presence in the streets in order to place increased pressure on decision-makers - starting with a sit-in at the Prime Ministry on Monday.
"We will not back down from our demands and we welcome the participation and support of all groups and all citizens to help us secure our basic rights," said Ahmed Jassreh of the Amman Teachers Committee.
Amman activists also stressed their solidarity with tenants, calling on authorities to repeal a Landlords and Tenants Law which they claim favours the wealthy and encourages the eviction of working class Jordanians and merchants.
Also yesterday, dozens of pro-reformers and teachers marched side-by-side in the southern cities of Tafileh, Karak and Shobak claiming that as their strike enters its second week, educators "can rely on the support of the Jordanian public".
Tens of pro-reformers also hit the streets in Salt and Theiban urging an end to corruption, calling on decision-makers to add former Royal Court chief and Minister of Planning Bassem Awadallah to a growing list of former officials standing trial for abuse of office and misuse of public funds.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood held a rally in Amman, demanding a stronger fight against corruption and stressing on the peaceful nature of protests, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
© Jordan Times 2012
